Flexible display

ABSTRACT

A flexible display including a container, a flexible panel and at least a supporting element is provided. The flexible panel is connected to the container such that the flexible panel can be rolled up inside the container. The supporting element has a shape-remembering characteristic and is disposed in or on the flexible panel. The supporting element can also be rolled up along with the flexible panel inside the container. When the flexible panel is spread out from the container, the supporting element supports the flexible panel and maintains the flexible panel in a spread-out state.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan applicationserial no. 95113733, filed on Apr. 18, 2006. All disclosure of theTaiwan application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display, and more particularly, to aflexible display.

2. Description of Related Art

With the rapid development of image display technologies, computerdisplays have changed gradually from the earlier cathode ray tubes (CRT)to the liquid crystal displays (LCD) in current times. Because theliquid crystal panel of a liquid crystal display comprises a pluralityof structurally fragile glass substrates, a metallic L frame is neededto protect the glass substrates against damages by external forces.Hence, the shape of the liquid crystal panel is fixed and attempt atreducing the thickness of a liquid crystal panel is met with somedifficulty.

Besides the application of liquid crystal display techniques in computerdisplays, the development of the flexible display is also fast. Becausethe panel of a flexible display is fabricated using a flexiblesubstrate, the flexible panel can be folded back into a container forhousing the flexible display or rolled up into a container when theflexible panel is not in use. When the flexible panel is needed todisplay optical images, it can be taken out from the container and puton a desk.

Unlike a liquid crystal display having shape and size limitation, theflexible display has much greater flexibility of shape and size.However, using the flexible panel of a flexible display is sometimesinconvenient because the flexible panel has no fixed configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, at least one objective of the present invention is toprovide a flexible display that can be used more conveniently.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, theinvention provides a flexible display. The flexible display includes acontainer, a flexible panel and at least a supporting element. Theflexible panel is connected to the container such that the flexiblepanel can be rolled up inside the container. The supporting element hasa shape-remembering characteristic and is disposed in or on the flexiblepanel. The supporting element can also be rolled up along with theflexible panel inside the container. When the flexible panel is spreadout from the container, the supporting element supports the flexiblepanel and maintains the flexible panel in a spread-out state.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing container is amanual-operated container, a semi-automatic container or a fullyautomatic container.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing container hasa support frame for erecting the flexible panel spread out.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing supportingelement is a supporting strip disposed on the surface of the flexiblepanel.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing supportingelement has an arc-shaped, a U-shaped or a V-shaped cross-section.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing supportingelement is a supporting layer disposed on the surface of the flexiblepanel.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing supportingelement has an arc-shaped cross-section.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing flexible panelincludes a plurality of stacked layers and the supporting element is oneof the stacked layers.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing supportingelement has an arc-shaped cross-section.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended toprovide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible display according to a firstembodiment of the present invention showing the flexible panel thereofin a spread-out state.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flexible display shown in FIG. 1showing the flexible panel thereof in a retracted state.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible display along line I-Iin FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible display along lineII-II in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible panel and thesupporting element of a flexible display according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible panel and thesupporting element of a flexible display according to a third embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible panel and thesupporting element of a flexible display according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible panel and thesupporting element of a flexible display according to a fifth embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible panel and thesupporting element of a flexible display according to a sixth embodimentof the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers areused in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or likeparts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible display according to a firstembodiment of the present invention showing the flexible panel thereofin a spread-out state. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the flexibledisplay shown in FIG. 1 showing the flexible panel thereof in aretracted state. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the flexibledisplay along line I-I in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view ofthe flexible display along line II-II in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 1through 4, the flexible display 100 in the first embodiment includes acontainer 110, a flexible panel (flexible display panel) 120 and twosupporting elements 130. The flexible panel 120 is connected to thecontainer 110 such that the flexible panel 120 can be rolled up insidethe container 110 as shown in FIG. 2 or unrolled from the interior ofthe container 110 and spread out as shown in FIG. 1.

In the first embodiment, the container 110 includes a casing 112 and acylinder 114. The cylinder 114 is installed to the interior of thecasing 112 through a pivoting shaft 114 a at the center of the cylinder114. Therefore, when the edge on one side of the flexible panel 120 isconnected to the cylinder 114, the flexible panel 120 may be pre-wrappedaround the cylinder 114 and concealed inside the casing 112. When theflexible panel 120 needs to be used, the edge on the other side of theflexible panel 120 can be pulled against the container 110 to spread outthe flexible panel 120.

To provide the container 110 in the first embodiment with an automaticretracting function, the container 110 may further includes a spring 116disposed between the casing 112 and the pivoting shaft 114 a of thecylinder 114. When a user manually pulls the flexible panel 112 out fromthe container 110, the spring 116 accumulates some elastic potential.Thus, when the user stop pulling the flexible panel 120, the spring 116will release its elastic potential to drive the cylinder 114 and rollthe flexible panel 120 back into the casing 112.

To keep the flexible panel 120 in a spread-out state, the container 110may include a braking element 118 disposed on the casing 112 fordeciding whether the flexible panel 120 should roll back into thecylinder 114 or pulled out from the cylinder 114. After pulling theflexible panel 120 out from the container 110, the braking element 118can keep the flexible panel 120 in the spread-out state. In the firstembodiment, the braking element 118 uses the frictional force on thesurface of the flexible panel 120 to fix the position of the flexibledisplay pane 120 relative to the cylinder 114.

In another embodiment (not shown), the braking element 118 may also usethe frictional force on the cylinder 114 or the spring 116 to fix theposition of the flexible panel 120 relative to the cylinder 114. Inother embodiment (not shown), the braking element 118 may use a latch tofix the position of the flexible panel 120 relative to the cylinder 114,the position of the cylinder 114, or the position of the spring 116.

Although the spread-out flexible panel 120 in the first embodiment canreturn to the container 110 inside the casing 112 automatically, itstill has to be pulled out from the container 110 manually. Hence, thecontainer 110 in the first embodiment is only a semi-automaticcontainer. That is, the flexible panel 120 is spread out manually but isrolled back automatically.

In another embodiment (not shown), the container 110 can be asemi-automatic container such that the flexible panel 120 is spread outautomatically but is rolled back manually. In another embodiment (notshown), the container 110 can be a pure manually operated container 110such that the flexible panel 120 is spread out and rolled back manually.On the other hand, in yet another embodiment (not drawn), the container110 can be a fully automatically operated container. In other words, theflexible panel 120 can be spread out and rolled back automatically.Here, the automatic roll back or spread out mechanism is not limited tothe use of a spring 116 as in the first embodiment. It can be a group ofmore sophisticated driving apparatus capable of spreading out theflexible panel 120 and rolling back the flexible panel 120automatically.

To position of the container 110 and the spread-out flexible panel 120firmly on a platform, the container 110 may further include a supportframe 119 (the dotted line portion of FIG. 3) fastened to the casing 112for erecting the spread-out flexible panel 120. In another embodiment(not shown), the support frame 119 may fold back on the casing 112 orattached to the casing 112 by some other means to reduce the spatialoccupation of the support frame 119.

To support the spread-out flexible panel 120 and assist the flexiblepanel 120 to resist warping due to gravity, the supporting element 130has a shape-remembering characteristic. In the first embodiment, thesupporting element 130 is a supporting strip located on opposite sidesat the back of the flexible panel 120. Therefore, when the flexiblepanel 120 is rolled back into the container 110, the supporting element130 and the flexible panel 120 are rolled back into the container 110together. Conversely, when the flexible panel 120 is spread out from thecontainer 110, the supporting element 130 will reform its original shapeas a long strip as long as no external force is applied. Hence, throughthe intrinsic tension in the supporting element 130, the flexible panel120 is able to support itself for viewing.

In the first embodiment, the supporting element 130 is a supportingstrip having an arc-shaped cross-section. However, in other embodiment(not shown), the supporting element 130 can be a supporting strip havinga U-shaped or a V-shaped original cross-section.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible panel and thesupporting element of a flexible display according to a secondembodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, unlike thefirst embodiment in FIG. 4 with a supporting element 130 on each side ofthe flexible panel 220, a lonely supporting element 230 is located inthe middle at the back of the flexible panel 220.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible panel and thesupporting element of a flexible display according to a third embodimentof the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, unlike the firstembodiment in FIG. 4 with the peak of the arc of each supporting element130 attached to the back on each side of the flexible panel 120, onlyone of the side edges of the arc of each supporting element 330 isattached to the back on each side of the flexible panel 320.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible panel and thesupporting element of a flexible display according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, unlike thefirst embodiment in FIG. 4 whose supporting element 130 is a strip, thesupporting element 430 in the fourth embodiment is a supporting layerhaving an original cross-section that of an arc. To support thespread-out flexible panel 420 and assist the flexible panel 420 toresist warping due to gravity, the supporting element 430 also hasshape-remembering characteristic. The layered supporting element 430 isdisposed on the bottom surface of the flexible panel 420. However, inanother embodiment (not shown), if the supporting element 430 istransparent, the supporting element 430 can be disposed on the topsurface (the display surface) of the flexible panel 420.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible panel and thesupporting element of a flexible display according to a fifth embodimentof the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, unlike the fourthembodiment in FIG. 7 whose supporting element 430 arcs up, thesupporting element 530 in the fifth embodiment is a supporting layerhaving an original cross-sectional shape that arcs down. The layeredsupporting element 530 is disposed on the bottom surface of the flexiblepanel 520. However, in another embodiment (not shown), if the supportingelement 530 is transparent, the supporting element 530 can be disposedon the top surface (the display surface) of the flexible panel 520.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible panel and thesupporting element of a flexible display according to a sixth embodimentof the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, unlike the flexible panel520 and the supporting element 530 in the fifth embodiment shown in FIG.7, the flexible panel 620 in the sixth embodiment includes a pluralityof stacked layers 622. A supporting element 630 is formed out of one ofthese stacked layers 622. Furthermore, the supporting element 630 can betransparent or non-transparent.

In summary, the flexible display in the present invention utilizes aspecial shape-remembering supporting element (for example, a supportingstrip or a supporting layer) to support a spread-out flexible panel.Hence, a user can view the flexible display with ease. In addition, whenthe flexible display is no longer in use, the supporting element can bereturned into a container along with the flexible panel, therebyreducing the spatial occupation of the flexible display. Therefore, thepresent invention is able to provide additional facilities to the userof the flexible display.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the structure of the presentinvention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present inventioncover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fallwithin the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

1. A flexible display, comprising: a container; a flexible panel,connected to the container suitable for being rolled up inside thecontainer; and at least a supporting element having a shape-rememberingcharacteristic disposed in or on the flexible panel and suitable forbeing rolled up inside the container along with the flexible panel,wherein, when the flexible panel is spread out from the container, thesupporting element supports the flexible panel and keeps the flexiblepanel in the spread-out state.
 2. The flexible display of claim 1,wherein the flexible panel is rolled up into the container manually,semi-automatically or automatically.
 3. The flexible display of claim 1,wherein the container has a support frame for erecting the flexiblepanel spread out.
 4. The flexible display of claim 1, wherein thesupporting element is a supporting strip disposed on the surface of theflexible panel.
 5. The flexible display of claim 4, wherein thesupporting element has an arc-shaped, U-shaped or a V-shapedcross-section.
 6. The flexible display of claim 1, wherein thesupporting element is a supporting layer disposed on the surface of theflexible panel.
 7. The flexible display of claim 6, wherein thesupporting element has an arc-shaped cross-section.
 8. The flexibledisplay of claim 1, wherein the flexible panel comprises a plurality ofstacked layers and the supporting element is made out of one of thestacked layers.
 9. The flexible display of claim 8, wherein thesupporting element has an arc-shaped cross-section.